One of the decisions that takes the most time when you are having a kitchen made is the choice of doors. The doors are the surface that shapes the look of the kitchen more than anything else, and the part you touch most in daily use. In this article we go through the most commonly chosen door types and what to look at when deciding.
The short answer
There is no single "best" door type. Appearance, colour, how easy you expect cleaning to be, surface properties and budget should be weighed together, and the decision should be made by looking at a physical sample rather than a screen wherever possible.
Door types
Lacquered doors
Lacquer is a surface finish obtained by painting a prepared surface. It offers a wide range of colours and a smooth look. It can be applied in matt or gloss.
Acrylic doors
Acrylic is a panel option with its own particular surface properties. It is chosen especially by those who want a glossy, deep look.
AGT Supramat
This is one of the options to consider for those who want a matt surface. Whether it is suitable depends on the surface properties of the chosen product, the colour preference, the conditions of use and the budget. For cleaning and care, the manufacturer's instructions for the specific product should be followed.
Membrane doors
With membrane doors, a foil covering is applied to a suitable surface. Compared with lacquered doors, the look of the edges and patterns, the colour options, the repair methods and the cost are different.
Lacquer or membrane?
With a lacquered door the surface is painted; with a membrane door the surface is covered with foil. It would not be right to judge durability by door type alone; the quality of manufacture and the conditions of use matter at least as much as the door type.
Matt or gloss?
Glossy surfaces reflect light more noticeably and can make a space look larger. Matt surfaces give a softer, calmer look. How visible marks are and how easy the surface is to clean depend on the colour, the texture and the product's properties. When deciding, think about the light your kitchen gets, the other materials such as the worktop and the floor, and your daily habits together.
A checklist for choosing
- See the sample in the real light of your own kitchen.
- Check how the door you choose works with the worktop, floor and wall materials.
- Ask the manufacturer for the cleaning and care instructions.
- Make sure the door type, thickness and colour code are written in the quote.
- Ask about the quality of the hinges and drawer runners as well as the doors.
How do we choose kitchen doors at 2EM?
At 2EM Interior Architecture & Furniture we go through the door and material options with you on kitchen projects, and show the combination you choose in 3D visuals before production starts. We build all kitchen cabinets in our workshop in Bağcılar and install them on site. You can see a completed example in our Florya Calacatta marble kitchen project (page in Turkish).
If you would like to talk through material options for your kitchen, get in touch with us.
